The Adjudicated Adolescent in Contemporary American Society: A Research Report.

Bullock, Lyndal M.; Reilly, Thomas F.

The purpose of the investigation involving 200 adolescents was to develop a descriptive profile of the adjudicated adolescent. The investigator sought to determine if predictive factors were discernable from an ex post factor analysis of data. Six instruments were utilized in obtaining the data: the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC); WISC-Revised; Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale; Wide Range Achievement Test; Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test; and Rorschach Test. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data. Demographic data were analyzed first. Among significant relationships found were those between Ss from broken homes and Ss who had experienced some type of drug intake immediately preceding the offense(s) for which the Ss were apprehended and adjudicated. When scholastic data were analyzed, significant relationships were found between Ss with learning problems and Ss who experienced some type of drug intake; and intelligence quotient of Ss and races of Ss, Ss from broken homes, Ss who experienced some type of drug intake, and Ss with learning problems. Among conclusions were that home status of delinquent Ss is reflective of the increasing number of delinquents who come from broken homes and delinquents from the current study are younger and brighter than the delinquents of previous years. (Author/SBH)